The Oceanography Service-Learning course created a drop-in activity to increase ocean literacy at the Children’s Garden at the Franklin Park Conservatory (FPC) for Community Day on April 4th. Almost 70 kids visiting the park got to make ocean sensory bottles to take home. The students in the course learned about the FPC and their vision of “a world that celebrates nature as essential to the human experience” before deciding on the activity. Recycled water bottles were filled with sand, water, and critters – creating an ocean in a bottle – as the kids learned about the importance of each and diversity of life in the oceans. A handout featuring “Sensy” the ocean bottle and color pages of ocean creatures was created by the team with artwork from one of the students in the class, and Earth Science major, Susie Klinga. Ocean rocks and fossils were on display (thanks to Molly Hunt). At the end of the activity, the impact of oil, plastic and heavy metal pollution was highlighted and visitors were reminded of the impact we have, even living in Ohio, on pollution in the ocean.
Students in the class shared in their final reflections:
“I believe we did a good job of making [the message] simple and urgent at the same time.”
“I also noticed some of the shocked faces of both kids and parents when looking at the pictures of the pollution!”
“Many [parents] spoke to their children after seeing the pollution station saying, “See, this is why we recycle at home”.”
“… a kids’ dad was telling her “and that’s why we don’t just throw plastic outside daddy’s truck while he’s driving. … I believe at least some of them will remember how keeping the environment clean is not just about “doing the right thing” but also to protect the beauty of the ocean and to protect the health and safety of the animals that live there.”
“I enjoyed doing this project immensely. My life goal is to be a child counselor, so it should be known that I love kids. Being around kids reminds me of when I was young and life was simpler. … I made sure to interact with every kid that I saw.”
“I appreciated being a part of the service-learning project and hope all the little ones did too!”
“… show these kids how amazing and interesting the ocean is to hopefully get them to appreciate it more even if they have never been there.”
This Service-Learning course was developed with support from the College of Arts & Sciences Curriculum Committee by Prof. Liz Griffith.